Lid support



P 1940- A. F. LICKTEIG 2,213,319

LID SUPPORT Filed Aug. 9, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 jwuowtowAlberfffliplifeiq dimtwlao p 1940- A. F. LICKTEIG 2,213,319

LID SUPPORT Filed Aug. 9, 1959 s Sheets-Sheet 2 -f'fgq'j' 1 6 23 1 8 16awe/Wm Alevilflicaeq (tune/1 4 P 1940- A. F. LICKTEIG 2,213,319

LID SUPPORT Filed Aug. 9, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jrumrvfom .56

Albcrlii Ziokfciq Patented Sept. 3, 1940 Albert F. Lickteig, GrandRapids, Mich., assignor Grand Rapids Brass Company,

Grand Rapids, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application August 9,

5 Claims.

The present invention relates to lid supports and more particularly tosupports for horizontally hinged lids of cabinets or the like and whichsupports include means for counterbalancing the weight of the lids toinsure smooth opening and closing of the lids and furnish support forthe lids in partially open positions.

The primary objects of the instant invention are to provide an improvedlid supporting device of the character above indicated, to provide sucha device which may be readily adjusted after installation in a cabinetto counterbalance the weight of the cabinets lid, to provide such adevice which may be readily and conveniently in stalled in the cabinet,and to provide such a device which is attractive in appearance,effective in use and economical inmanufacture.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein: Figure 1 is an inside elevational View of the lidsupport installed on a cabinet, the cabinet and lid thereof being shownfragmentarily in vertical section;

Figure 2 is a sectional View thereof on line 2- 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional View through the lidsupporting device on line3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary inside elevational view of the device, anassembly screwthereof I being omitted in this View;

Figure 5 is a perspective View of a pin element of the device;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a spring washer element thereof; t

Figure '7 is a central horizontal sectional view of the device partiallydisassembled and illustrating a method and means for adjusting thecounterbalancing effect of the device;

Figure 8 is an inside elevational view of amodified form of the lidsupport;

Figure 9 is a sectional view thereof on line 9-9 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a sectional View thereof on line ||l|0 of Figure 8; and tFigure 11 is a sectional view thereof on line of Figure 10.

Referring to Figures 1-7 of these drawings wherein like parts aredesignated by the same numerals in the several views, a cabinet having aside wall H and rear wall I2 is provided with a closure for the open topthereof her-c shown as a lid l3 mounted on the rear wall l2 by means ofhinges l4.

A housing i5 is secured to the side wall H of l the cabinet as by woodscrews l6 passing there- 1939, Serial No. 239,100

ing therein a recess l'i, an elongated chamber It having a reducedannular portion is, and a bearing through the wall therof coaxial with1, the annular portion ll! of the chamber I8. "A pin 2|, shown per se inFigure 5, comprises a shank 22 having a longitudinal slot 23therethrough, an enlarged annular circumferential flange 24 rotatablybearing in the reduced annular portion iii of the chamber I8, a bearingportion 25 journalled in the bearing 20 of the housingand extendingslightly beyond the bearing to form a shoulder 26, a reduced portion 21,and a peripherally serrated outer end portion 28; Y

A flat spiral spring 29 disposed in-the chamber I: N3 of the housing I5is provided with a turned-' over inner end 30 fixedly seated in the slot23 of the shank 22 of pin 2|,,the outer end 3| of the spiral spring 29being fixedly hooked over a post 32 cast integrally with the housing l5.

A base plate 33 is snugly fitted in the recess of the housing l5, and issecured therein by means of studs 34, 35 integrally cast on thehousthrough, said housing comprising a casting havlog and on the post 32respectively, said studs extending through apertures in the base plateand being swaged to securely join the housing and the base plate. Thisbase plate is provided with a boss 35 which forms a bearing forthe shank22- of 25, a cap 3'! being interposed between the shank 22 and boss 35.The side wall H of the cabinet is provided with a bore 38,

- drilled at the time of installation of the lid support, which boreaccommodates the boss36 of the base plate 33. v

I A radially undulated spring metal washer 39, shown per se in Figure 6,is interposed between the enlarged annular flange 24 of pin 2| and thebottom of the reduced annular portion I9 of the chamber !8 in thehousing It. This spring washer 39 urges the pin 2| toward the base plate33 thus properly positioning the fiat spiral spring 29 in the chamber I8and restraining the pin 2| against longitudinal movement relative to thehousing I5. Said spring washer 39 further serves as a stabilizing brake,exerting suflicient pressure on the parts to maintain the lid 3 in itsset position above a predetermined angle.

' An arm dilis'provided at one end thereof with i fixedly securedagainst relative rotating movement.

An assembly screw 42 has its shank 43 threaded in an internally threadedcentral opening 44 in the pin 2|, the head 45 of said assembly screw 42securely engaging the arm 40 therebetween and between the shoulder 26 onthe pin 2| thus fixedly securing the arm 40 on the pin 2|.

A link 46 is pivotally connected at 41 to the outer end of the arm 40and is pivotally con nected at 48 to a bracket 49 secured to the lid [3wrench 59 (see Figure '7) may be passed through in the arm 40 andthreaded the opening 4! into the internally threaded central opening 44in the pin 2!. By means of the wrench 59 thus inserted, the pin 2| maybe manually turned to adjust the tension of the spiral spring 29 andwhen the required tension is achieved, arm 40 is replaced on the pin 2!and the tension is maintained by the engagement of the serrations on'the arm with the serrations on the pin.

The assembly screw 42 is replaced after the fiat spiral spring has beenso adjusted as to counterbalance the weight of the lid so that the lidwill remain in any open position or will fall smoothly and softly toclosed position, as desired. Preferably the spiral spring is adjusted tomaintain the lid in open position above a prescribed angular inclinationof the lid, below which prescribed angular inclination the spiral springis increasingly tensioned thus cushioning the closing movement of thelid under its own weight.

It will be seen that the housing I5 is symmetrical with respect to ahorizontal center line, and that therefore identical parts may beinstalled on the opposite side wall of the cabinet from the wall I lshown in the drawing, by merely inverting the housing [5 and reversingthe position of the spiral spring therein.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Figures 8-11, thearm 46 is freely rotatably mounted on a bearing portion 5! of the pin 21but is coupled to the pin 2I by means of a disk 52 having an internallyserrated central opening 53 engaging the peripherally serrated outer endportion 28 of the pin 2, said disk 52 having radial ratchet teeth 54thereon engaging radial ratchet teeth 55 on the arm 40 A spring Washer56 interposed between the disk 52 and assembly screw 42 is compressibleto permit relative movement in one direction between the disk 52 and arm46 and said movement may be effected to increase the tension on the flatspiral spring 29 without removing the assembly screw 42 by manuallyengaging the teeth of a spanner wrench (not shown) into circumferentialsockets 51 in the disk 52 and turning the wrench.

The invention may be further modified, and as likewise shown in Figures8-11, by forming the housing of stamped metal parts comprising a mainstamping 53 secured to the side wall H of the cabinet 10 as by screws I6and a secondary stamping 59 having tongues 60 extending through slots 6|in the main stamping 58, these tongues being clinched to rigidly securethe stampings together. In this construction,

the pin 21 has a bearing 62 in the main stamping 58, a bearing 63 in thesecondary stamping 59, and a bearing 64 in the base plate 33 and thespring metal washer 39 is here interposed between the main stamping 58and a washer 65 abutting the circumferential flange 24 on the pin 2| InFigures 8, l0 and 11 is shown a stop for limiting the upward movement ofthe hinged lid I3 of the cabinet, said stop comprising a stud G6 on arm40 adapted to abut a projection 61 on the main stamping 58 to stop thearm 40 at a predetermined elevated position.

While but several specific embodiments of the invention have been hereinshown and described, it will be understood that certain details of theconstructions shown may be altered or omitted Without departing from thespirit of this invention as the same is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A counterbalancing device for a horizontally hinged lid of a cabinetor the like comprising a housing mounted on the cabinet and having achamber therein and a horizontal bearing through the wall thereof, abase plate secured to the housing and having a horizontal bearingtherein in alignment with the bearing in said housing, a pin rotatablydisposed in said bearings and projecting outwardly beyond the housing, aspiral spring disposed in the chamber and having its inner end fixedlysecured to the pin and having its outer end fixedly secured to I thehousing, an arm mounted on the outer end of the pin and turnable withthe pin, and a link pivotally secured at one end thereof to the outerend of the arm and pivotally secured at the other end thereof to saidlid.

2. A counterbalancing device for a horizontally hinged lid of a cabinetor the like comprising a housing mounted on the cabinet and having achamber therein and a horizontal bearing through the wall thereof, abase plate secured to the housing and having a horizontal bearingtherein in alignment with the bearing in said housing, a pin rotatablydisposed in said bearings and projecting outwardly beyond the housingsaid pin having a circumferential flange, a spring interposed betweensaid flange and the housing, a spiral spring disposed in the chamber andhaving its inner end fixedly secured to the pin and having its outer endfixedly secured to the housing, an arm mounted on the outer end ofthepin and turnable with the pin, and a link pivotally secured at one endthereof to the outer end of the arm and pivotally secured at the otherend thereof to said lid.

3. A counterbalancing device for a horizontally hinged lid of a cabinetor the like comprising a housing mounted on the cabinet and having achamber therein and a horizontal bearing through the wall thereof, abase plate secured to the housing and having a horizontal bearing inalignment with the bearing in said housing, a pin rotatably disposed insaid bearings and having a peripherally serrated portion projectingoutwardly beyond the housing, a spiral spring disposed within thechamber and having its inner end fixedly secured to the pin and havingits outer end fixedly secured to the housing, an arm having aninternally serrated opening therein adapted to engage the peripherallyserrated outer end portion of said pin in selected turned positions ofthe arm relative to the pin, and a link pivotally secured at one end 7thereof to the outer end. of the arm and pivotally secured at the otherend thereof tosaid lid.

4. A counterbalancing device for a horizontally hinged lid of a cabinetor the like comprising a housing mounted on the cabinet and having achamber therein and a horizontal bearing through the wall thereof, abase plate secured to the housing and having a horizontal bearing inalignment with the bearing in said housing, a pin rotatably disposed insaid bearings and having a peripherally serrated portion projectingoutwardly beyond the housing, a spiral spring disposed Within thechamber and having its inner end fixedly secured to the pin and havingits outer end fixedly secured to the housing, an arm having aninternally serrated opening therein adapted to engage the peripherallyserrated outer end portion of said pin in selected turned positions ofthe arm relative to the pin, an assembly screw removably threaded insaid pin for securing the arm against movement relative to the pin, anda link pivotally secured at one end thereof to the outer end of the armand pivotally secured at the other end thereof to said lid.

5. A counterbalancing device for a horizon.- tally hinged lid of acabinet or the like which has a bore in its side, said device comprisinga housing mounted on said side and having a base plate With a bossextending into said bore and forming a bearing for the hereinaftermentioned pin, a pin mounted in the housing turnable in the bearingformed by said boss, a spiral spring within the housing having its innerend secured to the pin and its outer end secured to the housing, an armmounted on the pin turnably therewith, and a link pivotally connectedwith the outer end of the arm and with the lid.

ALBERT F. LICKTEIG.

